Influential Woman · Sales

Jacqueline George

Business Owner, Sanctuary Health Services

Pittsburgh, PA

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Associate Degree in Criminal Justice Degree Hocking College Cert Addictions Certification (highest level) Cert Oncology Massage Certification

Her Story

About Jacqueline

I've had quite a journey in my professional life. I started with an associate degree in criminal justice, and most of my life I've gotten certifications. I became an addictions counselor and had an addictions certification that went to the highest level, and I did that for about 12 years. I really felt like most of the people I was dealing with in addictions had unresolved trauma. Then I went into massage therapy because I could see the therapeutic value of bodywork when dealing with people with trauma. Being able to work with people and help them develop a love and acceptance of their own bodies was important to me. I worked as a massage therapist for about 20 years, primarily focused on medical massage, taking oncology courses and educating on cancer massage. I worked in hospitals and I'm probably one of the only ones that ever worked in Western Psych, which is a psychiatric hospital here in Pittsburgh, and I did that for about two and a half years. That was probably my most notable professional achievement. Every year I had to keep up my education in massage, and I got a certification in oncology that I value very much because it taught me a lot about empathy and also taught me that dying is a natural process. I learned Thai massage, medical massage, oncology massage, and learned some things about trauma and how to work with people with trauma. Now, at 65, I've decided it's time to make money instead of wearing my body out to the point where I can't enjoy the rest of my life. It's my turn for me. I just started with Verizon in the last 3-4 weeks, had training for about 3 weeks, and then I've been on the floor for a couple weeks. My key role is developing relationships with leasing agents who are in charge of helping people move in and out of apartment buildings and condo associations. I try to give them deals and find as many discounts as I can, especially since I work with some high-rise apartments where there are people that are struggling financially. I do my best to try to make sure that they're getting what they need, not just what's going to make me money.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Jacqueline

01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

I think the best career advice I ever received was to take care of myself and not be identified as my career, but contribute to my career. Like, make sure that I am in good health and in a good emotional state, because it's real easy, like at one point I was an addictions counselor before I was a massage therapist, and it's real easy to take on other people's problems while your own house is burning. So it's important to make sure that you own yourself and your home and your own peace is there before you try to encourage other people to do what you think they should do.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I just think women need to speak up and not be afraid to ask questions. I work with a lot of men, and it's important for me not to shy away and not be a wallflower. Take pride in your work and take pride in the gifts that you have, because we all have them. I think for women, especially when you're working in a male-dominated industry, it's real easy to abdicate the power to the men. I'm not necessarily saying we need power, but it's important to stand up for yourself and to not be afraid to ask questions. And also, be okay with bringing a feminine view to the experience. I think there's such masculinity and some toxic masculinity that I think it's really important for women to kind of show that you can work in corporate and still have a heart, and have love. It's not always going to be cutthroat. You can work in that environment and not be cutthroat, is what I'm saying.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

I think one of the things I have been challenged with as being 65 is being in an industry where many of the people are much younger and have had experience with technology. I think the biggest challenge for me is realizing that technology is fickle, that it's not necessarily me when things are slow or when things are not working. It doesn't necessarily mean I'm doing something wrong, it means that the platform has a glitch or there's something happening that I don't have any control over. So I think having patience for that type of thing has been my biggest challenge. And learning technology. I don't shy away from it. I kind of challenge myself to keep doing it because it keeps my mind sharp, and it has helped me tremendously in being able to move forward in my job.

04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Continued growth, continued belief and possibility, and asking myself, instead of saying that can't work, trying to find ways that things can work. And in terms of values, treating people with love and respect. And realizing everybody has a story, so even if they're not necessarily treating me with love and respect, it may be that it's because they're not treating themselves that way. It doesn't mean I have to stay and accept abuse, it just means I have a better understanding of where people are coming from.

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